Stocking protector



' Jan. 17, 1933. A. HEELAN STOCKING PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 17, 1951 Swat/whom H- HE sJaz-z Patented Jan. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OF'FICE ADELAIDE HEELAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURL ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES G.

JONES, JUNIOR, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI I s'rooxms rnorncron Application filed September 17, 1931. Serial No. 568,439.

This invention relates to a stocking protector and one object of the invention is to provide a stocking protector which in some respects resembles a spat and may be very easily carried in a hand bag when not inuse, and quickly applied if a. person is caught out during a rain storm.

Another object of the invention is to so form the stocking protector that when it is in use it will cover the ankle and upper portion of a persons foot and thereby prevent the stocking from becoming splashed by rain or by water splashed by automobiles and other vehicles moving along a street.

Another object of the invention is to so form the protector that it has a front opening adapted to be closed by interengageable fasteners of the zipper type and thereby permit the protector to be opened for practically its full length While it is being put on and the front opening then closed and very firmly secured in a closed position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved stocking protector in use,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken transversely through the stocking protector along the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the body portion of the stocking protector and the securing strip thereof which extends beneath a persons shoe, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view looking at the inner face of the lower end of the front portion of the stocking protector.

The improved stocking protector comprises a body 1 which in some respects resembles a spat of the type worn by some people in order to protect the ankles and upper portions of the feet during cold weather.

This body portion is preferably formed of waterproof fabric as it is to protect a persons stocking from becoming soiled by rain water or by water splashed from puddles in a street. The two sections 2 of the body are of duplicate construction and are sofoot when the device is worn. The rear edges of the sections are folded inwardly as shown at 8 and stitched together as shown at 4, and the front edges of the sections have their lower ends stitched together as shown at 5 to form a relatively narrow bridge piece. The stitching 5 only extends the width of the bridge piece andforthe remainder of the length of the body the front edges of the two sections are free from each other, thereby permitting the protector to be opened at its front and Very easily fitted into place as shown in Figure 1 with the strap 6 extending beneath the instep portion of a shoe.

In order to releasably secure the front edges of the protector in a closed portion there has been provided interengaging fasteners 7 of the zipper type which are carried by fabric strips 8. These strips 8 extend along the front edges of the two sections in overlapping relation to the underfaces thereof and are firmly stitched in place as shown at 9. By this arrangement it is merely necessary to thrust a persons foot downwardly through the protector until the protector is in its proper position and then draw the actuating element 10 upwardly and the front opening will be firmly held closed.

A tongue 11 which serves as a guard for the front opening and a shield for the fastener extends longitudinaly of the front opening in bridging relation thereto and is secured adjacent one of its side edges by the stitching piece, as shown, so as not to interfere with the.

flexibility of said bridge piece and thus permit the latter to conform to and fit snugly against the vamp of the shoe. It should also be noted that the strips 8 extend downwardly beneath the bridge piece and a line of stitching 12 extends transversely through said bridge piece and through the lower edge portion of the tongue and the depending portions of the strips 8 overlapped thereby. Therefore the portion of the protector below the front opening will be greatly reinforced and danger of its tearing below the front opening prevented.

I have therefore provided a stocking protector which is strong in construction and 5 may be very easily put on or taken off. It will also be noted that the stocking protector will be light in weight and when not in use may be folded into a small mass and placed in a hand bag.

What is claimed is:

A stocking protector comprising a body of waterproof material shaped to fit about the ankle and cover the upper portion of a persons foot, said body being formed of matin sections having their rear edges united and their front edges separated to form a front opening leading from the upper edge of the body and terminating in spaced relation to its lower edge to form between said lower edge and opening a flexible bridge piece connecting the front edges of the sections at the lower portion of the body interengaging fastening devices having attaching strips overlapping the inner faces of the body at the opposite sides of the front opening and extendin downwardly beneath the upper edge of the %ridge piece a tongue across the front opening and fasteners extending longitudinally of the body and being of greater width 39 than the fasteners and thelr attaching stri s and having itsilower end spaced upward y from the lower edge of the bridge piece and bearing against the inner face thereof lines of stitching extending longitudinally of the attaching strips and engaged through the body between the upper edge of the body and the upper edge of the bridge piece, one of said lines of stitching also extending through a side portion of said tongue, and a line of 40 stitching extending transversely across the lower end of the tongue and engaged throu h the bridge piece and adjacent portions of t e attaching strips to reinforce the body at said bridge piece;

In testimon whereofI afiix my si nature.

ADE AIDE HEELAN. TL. 5.] 

